About

$1,109

pledged of $1,000 goal

65

backers

“All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one
man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better
language; and every chapter must be so translated….” – Shia LaBeouf

MIXMANCER is a 24-page one-shot about a superhero DJ who hunts down a
memoir-gone-wrong to a local bookstore. There, he must remix pop-culture
in order to fight cultural stagnation, an extra-dimensional thought-virus, spiky pink tentacles, and
self-help fundamentalists! Can the combined power of the Beach Boys and Full Metal Jacket
help save the day, or will DJ be consumed by the forces of mediocrity?
Back this Kickstarter and find out!

Mixmancer cover

Mixmancer - page 1

MIXMANCER is completely finished and ready for consumption! I will be
shipping out the digital version of the book as soon as the campaign
ends, with the personalized rewards soon to follow. In the meantime, you
can keep up with general updates over at epigamics.com and mixmancer.tumblr.com/

I don't have to wait for the book? Cannot...contain...happiness.

INSPIRATION

Okay, maybe Shia didn’t write the quote at the top of the campaign, but I’m sure he’s down
with the guy who did, English poet John Donne!

I first came across it in Jonathan Lethem’s essay “The
Ecstasy of Influence” (Harper’s,
February 2007), which is probably the biggest influence on the Mixmancer
concept. Read it and prepare to be blown away. While you’re at it, check
out Lawrence Lessig's Free Culture and Alan Moore’s Saga of the Swamp Thing while listening to the futuristic ramblings
of Kool Keith and the funkiness of Girl Talk, and you should be in the right
headspace for this book. Ready? Cool.

REWARD LEVELS

$2 – MAIN TRACK

24
pages of Mixmancer madness in a DRM-free PDF.

This is the entry-level, DRM-free PDF for those who are just
interested in the killer cover and 24 pages of madcap action. For just $2,
you’ll get the book and access to exclusive backer updates.

$5 – EXTENDED MIX

Keep
the party going after the 24 pages are over. This PDF includes the story,
script, back matter, sketches, pinups, and playlist.

If you want to find out just what went into the making of
this Frankenstein monster of a book, this is the reward level for you! I’ll be
including the original character designs by Carlos, all the juicy pinups (see
examples below), as well as a playlist that highlights all the pop-culture
snippets I cribbed.

$8 – SCRIPT SELECTOR

Why
settle for one file when you can get two? This includes the EXTENDED MIX as
well as a PDF featuring scripts from my other projects.

In one of the more blatant samples (ie. rip-offs, of which there are many) of Ryan K
Lindsay’s brilliant Kickstarter campaign for Deer Editor, this reward level includes a PDF full of scripts from my other projects,
including RETURN TO MAKER (my short story in the Imaginary Drugs anthology by IDW), the upcoming construction worker vs. mutant caterpillar miniseries MITCH HAMMER, another new project called KARMA POLICE, DRONES, my Zuda story LITTLE EARTH PEOPLE, awesome
fan fic, my first script from the Intro to Writing course at Comics Experience,
and more! The older scripts might be a bit rough around the edges, but I’m
still proud of ‘em and hope you’ll enjoy seeing my progression over the years.

$10 – MICROPHONE CHECK

I'll
drop some wisdom in the form of a word balloon or caption on the pinup of your
choice, and send you the digital file. Includes the EXTENDED MIX and SCRIPT SELECTOR
PDFs.

Some amazing artists have stepped up to make the Mixmancer
block party even louder. At this reward level, I’ll do a little emceeing over
their beats. The result? A personalized, digital pinup with somebody’s words in
one of Nic Shaw’s balloons – all for you.

$18 – PRINT SAMPLING – limited to 40

Physical
books! If analog is your thing, this is the reward level for you. You'll
receive TWO copies of the 24-page one-shot in all its printed glory, one to
keep and one to share. Also includes the EXTENDED MIX and SCRIPT SELECTOR
files.

Kickstarter campaigns for physical,
single issues are a tough call. On the one hand, artists are just as proud of
their thinner babies as they are of their big graphic novel man-children. On
the other hand, it doesn’t make sense to charge you an arm and a leg for
packaging and shipping one book. The solution? You get two! Thanks to Tyler
James over at ComixTribe for the inspiration.

$20 – CROSSFADER

Here
comes the remix! I will rewrite one page of the story, have it re-lettered, and
send you a digital copy of your very own version of Mixmancer. Includes the
EXTENDED MIX and SCRIPT SELECTOR PDFs.

Shia LaBeouf once said, writing a comic “is
like reconstructing the whole of Paris from Lego bricks. It’s about three-quarters-of-a-million
small decisions.” Once you’ve made those decisions and the book is printed, you
can never go back. But with the remix, anything is possible.

At this level I’m going to dive back
into Mixmancer and come up with different solutions for some of those
three-quarters-of-a-million small decisions, providing you with your very own
digital version of Mixmancer to hold and cherish! (I actually only make about
one-third-of-a-million small decisions per page, so this shouldn’t be that big
of a deal.)

$50 – DEFACEMENT MIX – limited to 10

I'll
send you a physical copy of the book, remixed with the help of wite-out,
glued-on pictures, cut-out ransom note letters, and probably gobs of glitter.
Includes the EXTENDED MIX and SCRIPT SELECTOR PDFs.

This is going to be BIG fun! And time consuming. Actually,
I’m quite scared about this reward level, as I’m sure I’ll want to spend way
more time on these than I possibly have. Because what’s more exciting than
cutting out lots of tiny individual letters from fashion magazines and old
comic books? NOTHING!

Warning: these books will not be near mint when I'm done with them. They will be closer to near awesome.

$60 – EDITORIAL OVERDUB – limited to 5

I will read your comic script (max 24 pages)
and provide scratchy feedback from the safety of my turntable. Includes the
EXTENDED MIX and SCRIPT SELECTOR PDFs.

As a member of Comics Experience, I’ve got a lot
of…well…experience in critiquing comic scripts. If you’re a writer looking for
another pair of eyes, this is the reward for you.

$100 – DJ JBS – limited to 4

A one-of-a-kind, single character commission
by guest DJ Jonathan Brandon Sawyer. Artwork is black and white, pencil and ink at 9x12.
Includes the EXTENDED MIX and SCRIPT SELECTOR PDFs.

Jonathan Brandon Sawyer is fresh off the critically
acclaimed Critical Hit from Black Mask Studios, and now he’s ready to bust out
some commissions for four special backers.

Jonathan Brandon Sawyer commission examples

$125 – ORIGINAL CUTS – limited to 10

Own
a page of original Mixmancer art from DJ Carlos Trigo! Includes the EXTENDED
MIX and SCRIPT SELECTOR PDFs.

Our very own Carlos Trigo has offered up some original
Mixmancer artwork. Click here to see available pages.

$150 – DJ JUAN JUAN – limited to 1

A
one-of-a-kind drawing by guest DJ Juan Gedeon. One character, black and white, pencil and ink
on 11x17 bristol board. Includes the EXTENDED MIX and SCRIPT SELECTOR PDFs.

Juan’s pinups blow up the Internet on a regular basis. If
you’ve ever wanted to have that power, back at this level. Juan will draw the
character of your choice, you post it online, and the whole thing will come
crashing down around our ears.

Juan Gedeon commission examples

$150 – DJ Gregori – limited to 1

You get the original artwork from Tony
Gregori's alien angel pinup! Includes the EXTENDED MIX and SCRIPT SELECTOR PDFs.

One of the hottest Mixmancers of all time was Farrah
Fawcett’s alien fairy twin sister. Back at this level and you will own the only
known portrait of this fluttering beauty, as captured by DJ Tony Gregori.

full image available upon request

$150 – DJ D.B. – limited to 1

You get the original artwork from Silvio D.B.'s ultra-hot pinup! Includes the EXTENDED MIX and SCRIPT SELECTOR PDFs.

When Mixmancer needs to access the power of wailing guitar gods, this is what he looks like.

full image available upon request

$175 – MIX AND MASHUP

A
guest artist will re-imagine one of the interior pages and send you the
original art. Includes the EXTENDED MIX and SCRIPT SELECTOR PDFs.

I’ve got a bunch of highly talented
artists ready to reinterpret every page of the script. Help get some money in
their pockets, and you’ll be the proud owner of a brand new page of original
artwork.

And now we’ve come to my big dream. If
we can get 24 backers at this level, I’ll get all the pages colored, have Nic
Shaw drop some new letters down, and put together a digital remix version of
the book for EVERY SINGLE BACKER!
It’s Mixmancer Redux, baby!

WHERE THE IS MONEY GOING

All money from this campaign is going to go towards recouping production and fulfillment costs from Mixmancer, as well as helping to finance my next projects. I'll be giving backers exclusive updates on what you can expect from me in the near future. Thanks!

MIXMANCER CREATED BY:

Chris Lewis – writer

Chris is the writer of the 5-issue miniseries DRONES (last seen on Kickstarter –
coming soon from IDW/Comics Experience – with artwork by Bruno Oliveira). His
work also appears in the recent smash hit IMAGINARY DRUGS (IDW), featuring art
by Eryk Donavan. Chris is a member of the Comics Experience Creators Workshop,
and founder of the self-publishing imprint Epigamics.

Carlos Trigo – artist

Carlos is a freelance comic book artist from Spain. He has
collaborated in the Anthologies DWP and Tall Tales from the Badlands, and
recently published CRIMSON SOCIETY
with writer Mike Hunau through Action Lab Comics. His work on Mixmancer is, in
my opinion, the best stuff he’s ever done. But I’m biased.

Andrew Crossley – colorist

Andrew gave birth to the extra dimensional colors and
pop-saturated world of Mixmancer. A true gentleman and rising star in the
industry, his work has appeared in MYSTIC,
SIGIL, ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR, GI
JOE, and TRANSFORMERS HEART OF
DARKNESS.

Nic Shaw – letterer

Nic is lettering every book in the indie scene, including such
hits as DOC UNKNOWN, 12 REASONS TO DIE, and most of IMAGINARY DRUGS. He is also the author of the awesomely audacious ACTION JOHNSON (ft. ten different artists!) and PLATFORM 24 with art by Claudio Muñoz.

PINUP EXAMPLES

pinup by Cabral

pinup by Juan Gedeon

pinup by Jonathan Brandon Sawyer

pinup by Claudio Muñoz and Tomas Marijanovic

pinup by Toni Gregori and Jasen Smith

pinup by Silvio D.B.

Risks and challenges

Not much to say here. I’ve already completed a successful Kickstarter for my book Drones, and am aware of the tasks ahead. As for Mixmancer, the book is finished and ready to go. The digital copies will be sent as soon as the campaign ends. The printed copies just need to be sent or defaced, depending on your reward level. Nic is raring to go with the pinups and remixed pages. The Defacement Mix rewards are probably going to take longest, but I’ll get them done with glitter and glee. If you have any concerns or questions, please let me know, and thanks so much for your support!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $18 or more
About $18

PRINT SAMPLING - Physical books! If analog is your thing, this is the reward level for you. You'll receive TWO copies of the 24-page one-shot in all its printed glory, one to keep and one to share. Also includes the EXTENDED MIX and SCRIPT SELECTOR files.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $20 or more
About $20

CROSSFADER - Here comes the remix! I will rewrite one page of the story, have it re-lettered, and send you a digital copy of your very own version of Mixmancer. Includes the EXTENDED MIX and SCRIPT SELECTOR PDFs.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

DEFACEMENT MIX - I'll send you a physical copy of the book, remixed with the help of wite-out, glued-on pictures, cut-out ransom note letters, and probably gobs of glitter. Includes the EXTENDED MIX and SCRIPT SELECTOR PDFs.